Structure for controlling pushbuttons



Jan. 31, 1967 e. c. WOLTERS 3,301,087

STRUCTURE FOR CONTROLLING PUSHBUTTONS Filed Oct. 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

26' J J Mm INVENTOR GERARD C. WOLTERS;

ms ATTORNEY.

Jan 31, 1967 5. 3. WOL'TERS 3,301,087

STRUCTURE FOR CONTROLLING PUSHBUTTONS Filed Oct. 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 68 v i- 66 i INVENTORZ GERARD C. NOLTERS HIS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent ()filice 3,361,087 Patented Jan. 31, 1967.

3,301,087 STRUtITURE FUR CUNTRGLLKNG PUSHBUTTQNS Gerard C. Wolters, Decatur, llL, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 5, 1964. Ser. No. 401,409 4 Claims. (Cl. 74-483) This invention relates to an improved multiple pushbutton actuating structure, and particularly to a multiple pushbutton tyne actuating structure utilized for controlling the operation of a tape recording device.

Prior art pushbutton type actuating mechanisms for tape recording devices have been either of relatively complex structure, thereby making them undesirably expensive in cost, or they have been somewhat difficult to operate by an inexperienced person. Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide, for use in a tape recording device, an improved multiple pushbutton type actuating structure which is of simplified construction, and very easy to operate.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved multiple pushbutton actuating structure with a novel and efficient means for assuring that one or more actuators cannot be o erated unless another actuator is operated preparatory thereto.

An additional object of my invention is to provide, for use in a tape recording device, an improved pushbutton actuating mechanism including fast forward, playrecord, stop and fast reverse actuators, and a slidable means which coacts with the stop actuator and the playrecorc actuator in such a manner that the playrecord actuator may not be operated unless the stop" actuator is operated first.

in carrying out my invention, in one form thereof, I apply it to a multiple pushbutton type actuating system having a supporting frame and a plurality of parallel pushrods extending therethrough. Pushbuttons are secured to upper and outer ends of the pushrods, and the lower and outer ends of the pushrods are adapted to perform controlling functions by means of the reciprocating movement of the pushrods. By my invention, a slidable element is arranged on the supporting frame for sliding movement between first and second positions relative to the pushrods. The sliding element is spring biased into its first position and includes an upwardly facing block ing surface and an upwardly facing camming surface. The blocking surface is disposed in underlying contiguity to one of the pushrods when the slidable element is in its first position for preventing movement of a pushbutton associated with this particular pushrod. The camming surface of the sliding element is normally disposed underneath another one of the pushrods and cooperably engageable therewith upon depression of this last-mentioned pushrod for operating the sliding element against its biasing force to the second position. When the sliding element is in its second position, the blocking surface of the element is moved away from the first-mentioned pushrod so that its associated pushbutton may then be depressed. A simplified and ellective structure has thus been pro vided for preventing the operation of one pushbutton unless another pushbutton has been operated preparatory thereto. In addition, in accordance with my invention, this sliding element arrangement has no effect upon controlling reciprocating movement of the other pushbuttons.

Further aspects of my invention will become apparent hereinafter, and the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which I regard as my invention. The invention, however, as to organization and method of operation, together with other objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an improved multiple pushbutton actuating structure embodying my invention, with all of the pushbuttons except one removed therefrom;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the structure of FIG. 1, with all of the pushbuttons shown in their underpressed positions;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, with one of the pustbuttons depressed;

FiG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with another one of the pushbuttons depressed; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating an important part of the structure embodying my improved actuating system.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown a multiple pushbutton type actuating structure 2 with which my invention has been advantageously employed. The pushbutton actuating structure 2 has been designed in particular for use in operating a tape recording device, but such a structure might also be beneficially utilized as part of a multiple pushbutton type switch. Structure 2, as illustrated, includes six pushrods 4, 6, 8, 1t), 12 and 14 which are disposed in side-by-side parallel relationship and extend upwardly and outwardly through appropriate apertures formed in a horizontal top plate 16 of supporting frame lit. Frame 13 also includes a U-shaped base 20, the arms 22 and 24 of which are secured to the ends of top plate 16 by means of flanges 22a, 24a of the arms and screws 26. Flanges 22a, 24a and the outer ends of top plate 16 may also be utilized for supporting the switch actuating structure 2 upon chassis C of a tapedeck for a magnetic recording device.

Each of the pushrods 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 has its upper and outer end secured to an associated pushbutton. More particularly, as shown in FIGS 24, the upper end of pushrod 4 is secured to pushbutton 34. In the illustrated structure 2, pushbutton 34 is moved from its outermost to its depressed position to initiate a fast forward operation of the tape for a magnetic tape recording device. The upper ends of pushrods 6 and 8 are conjunctively secured to pushbotton 36. Pushbutton 36 is moved from its outermost to its depressed position when it is desired to initiate a playing or recording cycle of operation for the magnetic tape recording device. The upper ends of pushrods 10 and 12 are conjunctively secured to pushbutton 41. Pushbutton 41 is moved from its outermost to its depressed position when it is desired to stop any movement of the tape for the magnetic tape recorder. The upper end of pushrod 14 is secured to pushbutton 44. Pushbutton 44 is moved from its outermost to its depressed position for initiating a fast reversing operation of the tape for the magnetic tape recording device.

Considering now in further detail the construction of the pushrods 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14, attention is directed to FIG. 5. As shown therein, with pushrod 10 being discussed by way of example, each pushrod is of generally flat construction and includes an elongated vertically eX- tensive slot 48 which extends upwardly from near depending shank section 50 toward the bottom of upper shank section 52. In vertical alignment with and just above slot 48 (viewing FIG. 5 there is formed a relatively small slot 54. Slot 54 is thus separated from slot 48 by a rib 56, the purpose of which shall become apparent hereinafter.

For positively latching each one of the depressed pushbuttons 34, 36, 41 and 44 in its innermost position, a spring biased slider 58 has been provided. Slider 53 is of flat elongated construction and is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the spaced apart and parallel planes wherein pushrods 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 are located.

More particularly, slider 58 is extended through suitable guiding apetures in vertical arms 22, 24 of base 20, and is normally biased to the left (viewing FIGS. 2-4) by means of a compression spring 62, which is extended around one end of the slider, and acts between arm 22 of base 20 and a retaining pin 64 secured to that end of the slider.

Slider 53 also extends through each aforementioned elongated slot 48 of the respective pushrods, as illustrated in FIG. 5. On the upper edge 66 of slider 58 there is formed a series of latching hooks 68, which each include an inclined upper camming surface 69 and a downwardly facing shoulder 70 connected by curvature to surface 69 and spaced upwardly from the main surface of upper edge 66. Each of the hooks 68 is thus arranged on slider 58 so that it normally extends through an associated slot 48 of one of the pushrods, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The purpose of these hooks 68 is to latch each depressed pushrod in its innermost position and also facilitate the release of each depressed pushbutton upon subsequent depression of another pushbutton. More particularly, for latching each depressed pushrod, its associated hook 68 enters slot 54, and shoulder 70 of the hook engages with the top of rib 56 of the depressed pushrod. For unlatching each depressed pushrod, upon the subsequent depression of another pushrod, the bottom of rib 56 for the subsequently depressed pushrod acts upon camming surface 69 of its associated slider hook 68. The slider 58 is thereupon moved to the right (viewing FIG. 2) against the force of spring 62 to release or unlatch the previously depressed pushbutton.

To provide a spring biasing force for returning each depressed pushrod to its outermost position, a compres sion spring 72 is fitted around the depending shank 50 of each pushrod. Spring 72 runs in compression between downwardly facing shoulders 74(: and 760 (FIG. formed by lateral arms 74 and 76 of each pushrod, and the upper surface of bight portion 84 of supporting base 20. As best illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the springs '72 thus exerts a biasing force between base and the shoulders 74, 76 of its associated pushrod, for effectively returning each depressed pushrod to its normal outermost position.

Turning now to an important aspect of my invention which concerns itself with an improved sequence enforcing mechanism requiring one pushbutton to be depressed before another pushbutton can be depressed, attention is now further directed to FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown therein, on the upper surface of bight portion 84 of base 20 there is mounted a specially configured slidable member 88. The member 88 has a fiat body portion 90 having a pair of enlarged ends 94, 96 and a smaller connecting portion 98. The enlarged ends 94, 96 of body portion 90, each have an elongated slot 109 formed therein. A rivet 102 is fitted through each of the slots 100 of member 88 and secured to bight portion 84 of base 20 so that member 88 may controllably slide upon base 20 in a direction parallel to the plane of slider 58. The slidable member 83 is thus movable between two positions, one of which is its normal position, as indicated in FIG. 5. The other position of slider 83 is indicated in FIG. 4 and will be further discussed hereinafter.

For biasing the slidable member 88 into its normal position, a tension spring 104 is extended between an upright tab 106 formed near one end of member 88, :and a corner 108 (FIG. 1) of base 20. Spring 104 thus normally biases slidable member 88 into the position wherein it is shown in FIG. 5.

As further shown in FIG. 5, on an inner edge of member 88, between its enlarged ends 94, $6, there are integrally formed two upwardly extending projections 110 and 12. Projection 110, which is the larger of the two, includes a vertically inclined surface 114 which is normally located right underneath the downwardly facing shoulder 74a of pushrod 10. Projection 112 includes an upper surface 116 which is in a generally horizontal plane and is normally located directly underneath the downwardly facing shoulder 74a of pushrod 8. In accordance with the teaching of the present invention, when pushbutton 41, which controls the stoppage of tape movement, is in its outermost position (FIG. 2), the downwardly facing shoulder 74!: of pushrod 8 is disposed in spaced overlying contiguity relative to the upper surface 116 of projection 112 of slidable element 88. Since pushrod 8 is secured to pushbutton 36, which controls the playing or recording cycle, the playing or recording cycle may not be initiated because surface 116 of projection 112 blocks the movement of pushbutton 36 to its depressed position. Thus, projection 112 of the slidable element 88 serves as a means for preventing the operation of the playing or recording cycle by pushbutton 36 when pushbutton 41, which controls tape stoppage, is in its outermost position.

When pushbutton 41 is depressed, pushrod 10 which is secured thereto, is moved downwardly. The downwardly facing shoulder 74a of pushrod 10 thereupon engages the inclined surface 114 of slider projection and cams slider member 88 to th upper right from the position wherein it is shown in FIG. 5 (see also FIG. 4). The sliding member 88 is thus moved against the force of spring 104 into its second (i.e. not normal) position (FIG. 4). Lateral shoulder 74 of pushrod 10 then engages the smaller vertical wall 118 of projection 110 to maintain slider member 88 in its second position. Blocking projection 112 has then been moved upwardly and to the right from its FIG. 5 position so that it no longer underlies shoulder 741/ of pushrod 8. The pushbutton 36 may then be readily depressed if the playing or recording cycle is desired. When pushbutton 36 is depressed, the bottom of ribs 56 of its two pushrods 6 and 8 act upon the camming surfaces 69 of their associated latching hooks 68 to unlatch the depressed pushbutton 41 and return it to its outermost position.

Since the pushrods 4 and 14, which control the fast forward and fast reversing movement of the tape, are in no way connected to slidable member 88, the sequence enforcing action obtained thereby has no effect upon the manipulation of pushbuttons 34 and 44. Thus, fast for ward and fast reversing movement of the tape may be initiated by depression of pushbuttons 34 and 44 without first having to depress the stop pushbutton 41.

It will be noted that an unidentified spring and a diagonally extending element appear in a segment shaped cutout portion of chassis C shown in FIGS. 2-4. These elements form no operative part of the present invention and are merely shown as incidental structure.

It will now therefore be understood that my new and improved pushbutton actuating device is simple in construction, readily operable, and effective in operation. It will be realized further that my improved actuating device readily lends itself to efficient association with a magnetic tape recording device.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, I have described what at present are considered to be the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from my invention, and I, therefore, aim in the following claims to cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a multiple pushbutton actuating mechanism, first and second reciprocating actuating members movable between innermost and outermost positions for performing controlling functions, means for supporting and guiding the reciprocating movement of said actuator members between said innermost and outermost positions, a slidable element arranged on said supporting means for sliding movement between first and second positions relative to said members, means for spring biasing said slidable element to said first position, said element including a blocking surface disposed in underlying contiguity to said first actuating member when said slidable element is in its first position thereby to prevent movement of said first actuator member to its innermost position, said element also including a camming surface cooperably engageable with the second actuating member upon movement of said second actuating member from its outermost to its innermost position, thereby to operate said slidable element against its biasing means to the second position, said blocking surface of said slidable element being disposed in spaced apart relationship from said first actuator member when said second actuator member is in its innermost position, thereby to allow the operation of said first actuator member to its innermost position.

2. In a multiple pushbutton actuating mechanism, first and second reciprocating actuating members movable between innermost and outermost positions for performing controlling functions, means for supporting and guiding the reciprocating movement of said actuator members between said innermost and outermost positions, means for automatically latching each actuating member in its innermost position and returning such an actuating member to its outermost position upon subsequent operation of the other actuating member to its innermost position, a slidable element arranged on said supporting means for sliding movement between first and second positions relative to said members, means for spring biasing said slidable element to said first position, said element including a blocking surface disposed in underlying contiguity to said first actuating member when said slidable element is in its first position thereby to prevent movement of said first actuator member to its innermost position, said element also including a camming surface cooperably engageable with the second actuating member upon movement of said second actuating member from its outermost to its innermost position, thereby to operate said slidable element against its biasing means to the second position, said blocking surface of said slidable element being disposed in spaced apart relationship from said first actuator member when said second actuator member is in its innermost position, thereby to allow the operation of said first actuator member to its innermost position.

3. For use with a tape recorder having at least four pushbuttons for individually controlling fast forward, fast reversing, stop and play-record operations of the tape recorder, a pushbutton actuating mechanism comprising first, second, third, and fourth pushrod means movable between innermost and outermost positions and secured respectively to said four pushbuttons for selec tively controlling respectively fast forward, fast reversing, stop, and play-record operations of said tape recorder, means for automatically latching each pushrod means in its innermost position and returning such pushrod means to its outermost position upon subsequent operation of another pushrod means to its innermost position, means for supporting and guiding the reciprocating movement of said pushrod means between said innermost and outermost positions, a slidable element arranged on said supporting means for sliding movement between first and second positions relative to said pushrod means, means for spring biasing said slidable element to said first position, said element including a blocking surface dis posed in underlying contiguity to said fourth pushrod means when said slidable element is in its first position thereby to prevent movement of said fourth pushrod means to its innermost position, said element also including a camming surface cooperably engageable with the third pushrod means upon movement of said third pushrod means from its outermost to its innermost posi tion, thereby to operate said slidable element against its biasing means to the second position, said blocking surface of said slidable element being disposed in spaced apart relationship from said fourth pushrod means when said third pushrod means is in its innermost position, thereby to allow the operation of said fourth pushrod means to its innermost position for initiating play-record operation of the tape recorder only after said third pushrod means has first been operated to its innermost position for stopping said tape recorder.

4. The pushbutton actuating mechanism of claim 3 wherein the first and second pushrod means are operable independently of said slidable element and may be operated to their innermost positions without first operating the third pushrod means to its innermost position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,859,666 11/ 1958 Hironimus 74--483 3,216,275 11/ 1965 OC-onnell 74-483 FRED C. MARTIN, JR., Primary Examiner.

J. PUFFER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MULTIPLE PUSHBOTTON ACTUATING MECHANISM, FIRST AND SECOND RECIPROCATING ACTUATING MEMBERS MOVABLE BETWEEN INNERMOST AND OUTERMOST POSITIONS FOR PERFORMING CONTROLLING FUNCTIONS, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND GUIDING THE RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR MEMBERS BETWEEN SAID INNERMOST AND OUTERMOST POSITIONS, A SLIDABLE ELEMENT ARRANGED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID MEMBERS, MEANS FOR SPRING BIASING AID SLIABLE ELEMENT TO SAID FIRST POSITION, SAID ELEMENT INCLUDING A BLOCKING SURFACE DISPOSED IN UNDERLYING CONTIGUITY TO SAID FIRST ACTUATING MEMBER WHEN SAID SLIDABLE ELEMENT IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION THEREBY TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST ACTUATOR MEMBER TO ITS INNERMOST POSITION, SAID ELEMENT ALSO INCLUDING A CAMMING SURFACE COOPERABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SECOND ACTUATING MEMBER UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND ACTUATING MEMBER FROM ITS OUTERMOST TO ITS INNERMOST POSITION, THEREBY TO OPERATE SAID SLIDABLE ELEMENT AGAINST ITS BIASING MEANS TO THE SECOND POSITION, SAID BLOCKING SURFACE OF SAID SLIDABLE ELEMENT BEING DISPOSED IN SPACED APART RELATIONSHIP FROM SAID FIRST ACTUATOR MEMBER WHEN SAID SECOND ACTUATOR MEMBER IS IN ITS INNERMOST POSITION, THEREBY TO ALLOW THE OPERATION OF SAID FIRST ACTUATOR MEMBER TO ITS INNERMOST POSITION. 